- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Once upon a time, in a land full of hills and sheep, there was a brave man named David. David loved God with all his heart, and God made him a king! Before David was king, there was another king named Saul. King Saul had a son named Jonathan, and Jonathan was David’s
very best friend. They promised to always take care of each other’s families, no matter what.
But one sad day, King Saul and Jonathan went to a big battle, and they didn’t come back. David became the new king, and he missed his friend Jonathan a lot. He wondered, “Does Jonathan have any family left that I can help?”
One day, David called a man named Ziba to the palace. Ziba used to work for King Saul’s family. David asked, “Ziba, do you know if Jonathan has any children I can be kind to?”
Ziba scratched his head and said, “Yes, King David! There’s one boy named Mephibosheth. He’s Jonathan’s son. But he lives far away, and he can’t walk very well because he hurt his feet when he was little.”
David’s eyes lit up. “That’s perfect!” he said. “I want to show him kindness because I loved his dad, Jonathan. Bring him to me!”
So Ziba went to find Mephibosheth. When Mephibosheth arrived at the palace, he was a little
scared. He rolled in on a special chair because his feet didn’t work right. He looked up at King David and said, “Why do you want me, King David? I’m not strong or important.”
David smiled big and said, “Mephibosheth, you *are* important! Your dad, Jonathan, was my best friend. I promised to take care of his family, and that means you! From now on, you’ll live here with me in the palace. You can eat at my table every day, just like one of my own sons.”
Mephibosheth’s eyes got wide. “Really? Me? At the king’s table?”
“Yes!” said David. “And guess what? I’m giving you back all the land that belonged to your grandpa, King Saul. Ziba and his family will help take care of it for you.”
Mephibosheth couldn’t believe it. He clapped his hands and said, “Thank you, King David! You’re so kind!”
Soon, Mephibosheth moved into the palace. He even brought his little boy, Mika, with him. Mika was Mephibosheth’s son, and he loved running around the palace, playing with the king’s kids. Every day, David, Mephibosheth, Mika, and all the palace friends sat together at a big, long table. They ate yummy food like bread, grapes, and honey. They laughed and told stories, and Mephibosheth felt so happy.
David kept his promise to Jonathan, and he showed Mephibosheth that God’s love is big enough for everyone—even a boy who couldn’t walk like the others. From then on, Mephibosheth and Mika weren’t just guests; they were part of King David’s family.
And every night, as the stars twinkled over the palace, David thanked God for giving him a chance to be kind—just like God is kind to all of us.
The end.
This tells how Mephibosheth hurt his feet when he was little.
David asks about Jonathan’s family and finds out about Mephibosheth.
David brings Mephibosheth to the palace and promises to take care of him.
Mephibosheth is surprised, and David gives him land with Ziba’s help.
Mephibosheth lives with David and eats at his table, even with his hurt feet.
The story of David and Mephibosheth teaches us something really special: **we can show kindness to others, just like God shows kindness to us!** David didn’t have to help Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth couldn’t walk well, and he felt like he wasn’t important. But David
remembered his promise to his friend Jonathan, and he wanted to show love to Mephibosheth because of that friendship.
David didn’t care that Mephibosheth was different or couldn’t do everything others could. He loved him anyway! You can be kind to your friends, your family, or even someone who seems different, like sharing a toy or smiling at them.
David kept his promise to Jonathan, even after Jonathan was gone. When you say you’ll do something—like helping a friend or sharing—try to do it, because that shows you care.
David showed Mephibosheth that he was important, and that’s how God sees us too! Even when we feel small or scared, God loves us and wants us to be part of His big family, just like Mephibosheth was part of David’s family.
So, next time you see someone who needs a friend or a little help, think of David and Mephibosheth. You can be kind and make them feel special, just like God does for you!
This lesson keeps it fun and practical for kids, encouraging them to act with kindness in their everyday lives while connecting it to the story and God’s love.
